Page 41 of Blood Bound

Iclasp my hands in my lap to stop them from twisting anxiously as Kara speeds away from the Nocturne Lounge. My heart’s still racing from the confrontation, but it’s the text message that’s truly rattled me.

“Mia sends her love.”

The words echo in my head, hope and dread tightening my chest.

“We need to tell Mom and Dad.” Kara’s voice is tight with worry.

I shake my head. “No. Not yet. They’ll freak out and probably ground us until we’re eighty.”

“Ro, this is serious. We were almost attacked by a vampire; there was all that shit with Darick and that Lucien dude…and now this creepy message? We’re in over our heads.”

She’s right, but I can’t shake the feeling that involving our parents will only make things worse. “They’ll never let us help find Mia if they know what happened tonight.”

Kara sighs, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. “So, what do we do?”

I chew my lip, thinking. “Gran. We go to Gran.”

“You think she’ll keep this from Mom and Dad?”

“She understands better than anyone. And she won’t flip out like they would.”

Kara nods slowly. “Okay. Gran it is.”

As we drive toward Gran’s house, I can’t stop replaying the night’s events in my mind. Darick with that other witch, the menacing vampire, Lucien’s cryptic words, and now this message about Mia. It’s all swirling together, a confusing mess of danger and secrets.

As we pull up to Gran’s house, the warm glow from her windows is a beacon of comfort in the night. Despite the late hour, fairy lights twinkle in the garden, casting a soft, magical ambiance over the modern architecture. It’s a perfect blend of the mystical and mundane, just like Gran herself.

“You sure about this?” Kara asks, her hand hovering over the car door handle.

I nod, trying to project more confidence than I feel. “Absolutely.”

We make our way up the path, the scent of night-blooming jasmine filling the air. Before we can knock, the door swings open, revealing Gran in her silk pajamas, her hair slightly mussed.

Oh no, we’ve woken her up.

“Girls?” Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but her voice is warm. “What in the world are you doing here at this hour?”

“Hey, Gran,” I say, suddenly feeling sheepish. “Sorry to wake you. We, uh…we need to talk.”

Gran’s eyes narrow slightly, her gaze sharp despite the late hour. She looks from me to Kara, then steps back, ushering us inside.

“Well, don’t just stand there letting the moths in. Come on inside.”

As we enter, I’m enveloped by the familiar scents of cinnamon and sage. Gran’s house always feels like a sanctuary, cozy and magical. Crystal wind chimes tinkle softly near an open window, and I spot her latest spell book open on the coffee table in the living room.

“I’ll put on some tea,” Gran says, heading toward the kitchen. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

Kara and I exchange a glance as we sink into the plush sofa. The weight of the night’s events seems to settle more heavily on my shoulders now that we’re here. I take a deep breath, trying to figure out where to even begin.

“What do we tell her?” Kara glances at me as we listen to our grandmother bustling about.

“Exactly what happened,” I reply. “No sense in hiding anything.”

“Hiding what, darling?” Gran is in the doorway, carrying a tray. She heads to the coffee table and sets it down, handing us each a cup of tea before taking a seat.

I take a deep breath, clutching my tea cup for comfort. “Gran, we went to the Nocturne Lounge tonight.”

Gran’s eyes fly wide, but she doesn’t interrupt.

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